Bathtub



N. C. DAVIS Feb. 11, 1936.

BA'IHTUB Filed July 13, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 11, 1936. c, DAVls 2,030,687

BATHTUB Filed July 13, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 Patented Feb. 11, 1936 'BATHTUB Nor-man C. Davis, Baltimore, Md.

Application July 13, 1935, Serial No. 31,278

This invention relates to bathtubs and has particular reference to devices of this kind wherein the bather may be comfortably seated in the water and also receive a shower of water 'over the Among the objects of this invention is to provide an apparatus, of this kind combining the benefits and featuresof the bathtub and foot bath as well as the spray bath.

A further object of this invention is to provide a bathtub free from the hazards normally found in these devices which result in accidents and injury to the bather.

A still further object of this invention is to provide means for easy access by the bather into the tub.

the bather.

Other, iurtherand more specific objects of this invention will become readily apparent to persons skilled in the'art from a consideration of the a following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspectiveview of my new bathtub.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of my new bathtub.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of my new bathtub.

Fig. l is a longitudinalseetion through the bathtub taken-along line 4-4 of 'Fig. 5. Y

Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken along line 5-5 Fig. 7 is a fragmental, sectional view showing the ball and chain closure of the water outlet f of my bathtub;

Fig.8 is a diagrammatic view showing the pipe connections for the hot and cold water to the bathtub proper and to the shower.

My new device comprises the side walls I and 2, 3 and the rear wall 4 which is curved to conform to the contour of the body of the bather. This body portion is supported upon the legs 5 and is also provided with the hand rails 8 which may be grasped by the bather when stepping into the bathtub. At the front of this bathtub I have provided-the conveniently disposed step I for use by the bather when stepping the front w into the bathtub.

sectional view showing 14 Claims. (01. 4-173) ter the .tub easily at either side of the device. This tub is also provided with the foot bath or well I I wherein the bather keeps and rests the feet while taking the bath. v

The front wall 3 is bored to receive the hot water supply pipe l2 and the cold water supply pipe l3, which are controlled by the valves II and IS, respectively. These valves I 4 and I5 are disposed in the hollow portion 3a of the front wall 3. Both in a suitable bore in the front wall 3, and the outlet from pipe I6 is regulated by a valve I! where- .bythe flow of water is either directed into the bathtub through the inlet II or else allowed to water supply pipes and the valves are sunken or positioned below the top of the wall 3, so that the bather will not strike his body or limbs against samewhen entering or leaving the bathtub.

The shower supply pipe l9 extends to the per- 20 forated conduit 20, which, in the illustration shown herein, is disposed at the top of the curved rear wall member 4 and follows the side walls for such distance as desired. I have found that if the valve I1 is of greater size than the pipes 25 I6 and i9, and valve I1 is entirely open, at the usual pressures of water supply the water from pipe l6 will pass into the tub through the inlet.' l8 and will not reach the perforated conduit 20. By closing the valve H, the water in pipe l6 will 30 proceed through pipe l3 and issue from the shower 20. It is to be understood that my invention contemplates the, use of two or more spray conduits (together with suitable valve control) in is to herein, thus permitting the device to have a body spray as well as the upper shower. j

The discharge of water from the bathtub is controlled by a weighted ball 2| suspended from a chain 22 which passes through the guide open- 4 ing-23 in thefrontwall3 and extenl lsiqulwgrdly over the top of this wall. To the outer end is attached a counter weight 24, which serves tobaltime the weighted ball 2| when the latter is moved upwardly and awayirom its seat 25. The guide opening 23 is disposed so -that the weighted ball 2| will be in alignment with the discharge opening 26. When it is desired to drain the 'water from theinterior oi the bathtub'Qthe chain 22 is 50 merely pulled up, thereby unseating the ball and allowing the water to pass through ,thedischarge opening 26. The ball may be held in unseatedposition by meansjof the counterweight 22. This chain 22- as well as the valves l4, l and I1 55 hot and cold water pass into the pipe I6 disposed flow to the shower by way of the pipe l9. These lieu of the single spray conduit illustrated are conveniently located and within easy reach of the bather when seated in the bathtub.

My device is also provided with the overflow conduit 21 on the front wall of the tub, the water from this overflow 21 being discharged through the drain pipe 28. The inlet to the overflow conduit 2'! is located at a lower point than the inlet IS. The floor of the step I is of open-work structure so that any water which comes thereon, as for example from the wet feet of the bather when leaving the bathtub, will pass through this floor and will also be discharged through the drain I pipe 23.

My device combines all of the advantages of the bathtub, foot bath and shower bath. This construction can be located without the need of excavating or providing an underground cavity for the reception of the well ll serving as the foot bath. By my conveniently arranged steps at the front of the bathtub, it may be entered by the bather very' conveniently, even when the whole structure is placed upon the floor. Also, when the bather is seated on the shelf 8 with the feet in the well H, the valves l4 and i5 for the supply of hot water, cold water or a mixture, the valve ll for regulating the flow of water to the bathtub or shower and the chain 22 whereby the -ball 2! is unseated from the water discharge opening ,26, are all within easy reach of the bather.

In my device, there are provided a deep section and a shallow section, the deep section forming a foot well I I and the bottom of the shallow section forming a seat 9 for the bather as well as the inner steps l0 adjacent to the front Wall 3, thus afiording easy passage from the bathtub over the front wall 3; 1

It is to be understood that the valve I! may be a 2-way valve and may also be inserted directly in the pipe l6 for the purpose of regulating the flow of water to the bathtub or shower, as desired.

The present invention is not limited to the specific details set forth in the foregoing examples which should be construed as illustrative and not by way of limitation, and in view of the numerous modifications which may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, it is desired that only such limitations be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: v

1. A bathtub having front, rear and side wall portions, and comprising a shallow section and a deep section, said deep section forming a foot well, and ,the bottom of said shallow section forming a seat for the bather and an inner step adjacent to -a wall portion affording easy passage from said bathtub over said latter wall portion, and said latter wall portion having an outside step adjacent thereto affording easy passage over said'latter wall portion into the bathtub.

2. Abathtub having front, rear and side wall portions, a seat for the bather and a foot well within said tub, means including "a' sprayer for supplying water of the desired temperature to said bathtub, means for withdrawing the water from said bathtub, and means affording easy passage over the front wall portion into and out of thebathtub, said latter means comprising an outside step adjacent to the front wall portion and an inner step adjacent to the front wall portion.

3. A bathtub having front, rear and side wall portions, said side wall portions being higher than and extending beyond said front wall portions, a seatfor the batherand a foot well within said I tub, means for supplying water of the desired temperature to said bathtub, means for spraying water upon the bather, means for withdrawing the water from said bathtub, a step disposed between said extensions of the side wall portions and adjacent to the front wall portion affording easy passage over the front wall portion into the bathtub, and an inner step adjacent to the front wall portion affording easy passage from the bathtub over said front wall portion.

4. A bathtub having front, rear and side walls,

' a seat for the bather and a foot well within said the water from said bathtub, and a step adjacent to the front wall affording easy passage over the front wall into the bathtub, said means for opening and closing said water supply to the tub and said chain being disposed within easy reach of the bather when seated in the tub. V

5. A bathtub having front, rear and side wall portions, and comprising a shallow section and a deep section, said deep sectionforming a foot well and the bottom of said shallow section forming a seat for the bather and an inner step adjacent to the front wall portion affording easy passage from said bathtub over said front wall portion, said front wall portion having an outside step adjacent thereto affording easy passage over said front wall portion into the bathtub,

means for supplying water of the desired temperature to said bathtub, means for spraying water upon the bather, and means for withdraw ing the water from said bathtub.

6. A bathtub having front, rear and side walls, L

and comprising a shallow section and a deep section, said deep section forming a foot well and the bottom of said shallow section forming a seat for the bather and an inner step adjacent to the front wall affording easy passage from said bathtub over said front wall, and said front wall having an outside step adjacent thereto affording easy passage over said front wall portion into the bathtub, means for supplying water of the desired temperature to said bathtub, means within a hollow portion of said front wall and disposed entirely below the top of said front wall for opening and closing said water supply means, means comprising a chain movable upon said front wall and a ball depending from said chain for withdrawing the water from said bathtub,

withdrawing the water from said bathtub, and a step disposed between said extensions of the side wall portions and adjacent "to the front (All portion affording easy passage over the front wall portion into the bathtub.

8 A bathtub having front, rear and side wall portions, said side wall portions being higher than and extending beyond said front wall portion, handles upon the front part of said exten- G5 desired temperature tosaid bathtub, means for sions, a seat for the bather and a foot well within said tub, means for supplying water of the.

desired temperature to said bathtub, means for withdrawing the water from said bathtub, and a step disposed between said extensions of the side wall portions and adjacent to the front wall portion affording easy passage over the front wall portion into the bathtub, said step having openings to allow water to drain therefrom.

9. A bathtub having front, rear and side walls, and comprising a shallow section and a deep section, said deep section forming a foot well and the bottom of said shallow section forming a seat for the bather and inner steps adjacent to the front wall affording easy passage from .said bathtub over said front wall, said side walls being higher than and extendingbeyond said front wall, and said front wall having an outside step disposed between said extensions of the side walls and adjacent to said front wall affording easy passage over said front wall into the bathtub.

10. A. bathtub having front, rear and side walls, and comprising a shallow section and a deep section, said deep section forming a foot well and the bottom of said shallow section forming a seat for the bather and inner steps adja-.

cent to the front wall affording easy passage from said bathtub over said front wall, said side walls being higher than and extending beyond said front wall, handles upon the front part of said extensions, and said front wall having an outside step disposed between said extensions of the side walls and adjacent to said front wall affording easy passageover said front wall into the'bathtub, said outside step havingopenings to allow water to drain therefrom.

11. A bathtub having front, rear and side walls, and comprising a shallow section and a deep section, said deep section forming a foot well and the bottom of said shallow section forming a seat for the bather and inner steps adjacent to the front wall affording easy passage from said bathtub over said front wall, said side walls being higher than and extending beyond said front wall, handles upon the front part of said extensions, said front wall having an outside step disposed between said extensions of the side walls and adjacent to said front wall affording easy passage over said front wall into the bathtub, said outside step having openings to allow water to drain therefrom, means for supplying water of the desired temperature to said bathtub, means within a hollow portion of said front wall and disposed entirely below the top of said front wall for opening and closing said water supply means, and means comprising a chain movable upon said front wall and a ball depending from said chain for withdrawing the water from said bathtub, said means for opening and closing said water supply to the tub and said chain being disposed within easy reach of the bather when seated in the tub.

12. A bathtub having front, rear and side wall portions, said side wall portions being higher than and extending beyond said front wall portion, a step disposed between said extensions of the side wall portions and adjacent to the front wall portion affording easy passage over the -front wall portion into the bathtub and an inner step adjacent to said front wall portion affording easy passage from said bathtub over said front wall portion.

13. In combination, a bathtub having front, rear and side wall portions, one of said wall portions being lower than said other wall portions, a seat for the bather and a foot well within said tub, means for supplying water of the desired temperature to said bathtub, means for withdrawing the water from said bathtub, means affording easypassage over the lower wall portion into and out of the bathtub, said latter means comprising an outside step adjacent to the lower wall portion and an inner step adjacent to the lower wall portion, and a handle within easy reach of the bather when passing over said lower wall.

14. In combination, a bathtub having front, rear and side wall portions, one of said wall portions being lower than said other wall portions, means affording easy passage over the lower wall portion into and out of the bathtub, said means comprising an outside step adjacent tov the lower wall portion and an inner step adjacent to the lower wall portion, and a handle within easy reach of the bather when passing over .id lower wall.

NORMAN C. DAVIS; 

